Bringing an Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit for an Accident Resulting in Paralysis

 Posted on March 29, 2021 in Catastrophic Injuries

If an accident victim suffers a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or broken neck, he or she may be left with partial or full paralysis. Waking up in a hospital room and realizing that you are paralyzed is one of the most terrifying experiences that a person can go through. Paralysis victims often require a tremendous amount of medical care and attention and are unable to complete work tasks and daily responsibilities. This can lead to a heavy financial burden. Through a personal injury lawsuit, a paralysis victim may be awarded financial compensation for the damages caused by his or her paralysis.

When is a Successful Paralysis Injury Lawsuit Possible?

Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis are often caused by motor vehicle accidents. Work accidents, falling, and physical violence may also lead to paralyzing injuries. Whatever the cause of the paralysis, a successful paralysis injury lawsuit requires the same basic components as other injury lawsuits:

• Duty – The defendant had a duty to exercise reasonable care.
• Breach of duty – The defendant breached or violated the duty of care.
• Causation – The defendant’s actions or lack of action caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
• Damages – The plaintiff suffered damages because of his or her injuries.

Often, one of the hardest parts of a personal injury claim is identifying who is liable for the injury. For example, many catastrophic motor vehicle collisions involve several different vehicles and multiple liable parties. A skilled personal injury lawyer can identify who is liable for damages and pursue compensation for those damages.

What Types of Damages Are Typically Available for Paralysis Victims?

Losing the ability to use one’s arms, legs, or other body parts has a dramatic impact on the individual’s life. Therefore, personal injury cases involving permanent loss of functioning are often high value. A paralysis victim may receive compensation for:

• Medical expenses including emergency medical care, inpatient hospitalization, surgery, doctor’s appointments, nursing care, and physical therapy
• Wheelchairs and other medical equipment, home and vehicle modifications needed to accommodate the victim’s disability, and assistive technology
• Lost past and future income from missed work
• Reduction of the victim’s earning potential
• Physical pain
• Emotional and psychological suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Contact an Elmhurst Paralysis Lawyer

If you or your loved one suffered paralysis because of a car accident, workplace accident, or another incident, contact Schwartz Injury Law to talk about your legal options. A Cook County catastrophic injury attorney from our team may be able to help you get compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, in-home modifications, and more. Call 708-226-9000 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/IL_IPI_Civil.pdf